We were forced to swear oath of secrecy over Boko Haram terrorists – Ex-govt official

Oath of Secrecy

A former Director of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Gavs Katiya, revealed that he and officials of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) were forced to take an oath of secrecy before speaking with repented Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s north-east. Mr. Katiya, now retired, made this disclosure during his appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

NDE’s Role

Established in 1986, the NDE is a federal agency responsible for tackling unemployment among Nigerian youths, primarily through skill acquisition programs. Boko Haram insurgency has led to the deaths of tens of thousands, including over 300,000 children since it began around 2009 in Nigeria’s north-east.

Interaction with Repented Fighters

Mr. Katiya, who hails from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, was deployed to the North-east before retiring from the NDE. The position allowed him, along with NOA officials, to interact with some repented Boko Haram fighters. He recalled the first batch of 95 repented fighters being brought to his office for skill training. To read more about Boko Haram, click here

Secrecy and Assimilation

According to Mr. Katiya, before they could interact with the repented fighters, they had to take an oath to maintain confidentiality about the identities of the fighters. He did not provide details about who mandated the oath. Mr. Katiya now coordinates the Gwoza Resettlement Initiative, aimed at resettling refugees displaced by terrorist attacks in Gwoza.

Boko Haram as a Livelihood

Mr. Katiya explained that many residents in the North-east join Boko Haram as a means of livelihood. Among the 95 repented fighters he met, 70 were from Gwoza. He emphasized that some individuals view insurgency as a business opportunity.

Expert Opinion

Security expert Patrick Agbambu commented that while various methods can be used to achieve peace, forcing people to take an oath of secrecy is not standard practice in security. Mr. Agbambu, who has also interacted with repented fighters, noted that he was never required to take such an oath.

Recent Incidents

Gwoza, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon, recently made headlines when four female suicide bombers, suspected to be Boko Haram members, killed over 20 people on Saturday, 29 June.

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